A six-storey residential development at the corners of Wallace St. and Campbell St. is another step closer to having construction begin after Council granted a development permit on Monday, Nov. 15. (City of Nanaimo)

By Alex Rawnsley

RENTAL UNITS

163-unit rental housing complex given green light for downtown Nanaimo

Nov 16, 2021 | 5:28 AM

NANAIMO — Development is set to continue on a significant housing complex in the downtown.

City council granted a development permit during their meeting on Monday, Nov. 15, to a residential complex destined for the corner of Wallace St. and Campbell St. It will feature 163 units, split between studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Donald Yen from 340 Campbell St. Ltd. Partnership, told Council the project fits many of the criteria and visions for the area.

“This owner built and operated project we believe aligns with ownership’s commitment to provide affordable rental housing, to also support the OCP policy goals of the Northgate community.”

The U-shaped building will have 32 studio apartments, 70 one-bedroom, 38 two-bedroom and eight three-bedroom units. The remaining 15 units will be live-work arrangements on the ground floor, featuring a mixture of residential and non-residential space.

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Four existing lots will be combined into one in order to complete the project.

In order to accommodate construction, a former medical building and pharmacy will be demolished.

An old medical building home to a pharmacy and other empty units is proposed to be transformed into a large rental apartment complex. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Yen was challenged on his declaration the project was “affordable rental housing” by Coun. Don Bonner.

Bonner asked whether the units would be priced based on 30 per cent of income before taxes, a formal definition for ‘affordable housing’.

“We’re basing it on market driven and the ownership group is pricing it accordingly,” Yen answered.

Specific rental pricing was not part of the permit application.

The development permit was granted with a height variance of 4.82 metres to accommodate the six storey complex.

Coun. Ben Geselbracht objected to the height, suggesting it would take away from a neighbouring elementary school, École Pauline Haarer.

“I think it’s really important to get multi-family housing down there, I really appreciate the larger units with the more bedrooms in it,” Geselbracht said. “I’m not a big fan of the height variations, I think six storeys is pushing it a bit too much and I think four, five max is the best.”

Staff told Geselbracht the school district was not formally consulted on the project and they didn’t believe the height would adversely affect the school.

The complex will come with two levels of underground parking for 104 vehicles, with another 34 ground-level spaces.

Nanaimo’s design advisory panel gave their approval to the project in May, with seven recommended changes mainly based around landscaping.

Jeremy Holm, city director of development approvals, told Council the developer had taken the seven recommendations on board during revisions of the project.

The permit was granted through an 8-1 vote, with Geselbracht the only councillor opposed.

Property owners now have up to two years to apply for a building permit before shovels can get in the ground.

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alex@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley